I WAS pleased to learn that Ian Baillie, of Lennox Literary Society, has called for the Cardross-born, world-renowned author A J Cronin to be honoured in Dumbarton, where he completed his education. (Lennox Herald, February 17).

West Dunbartonshire Council might wish to consider installing a suitable plaque at Dumbarton Public Library, a convenient central location where it would be seen by many.

It is also to be hoped that BBC Scotland will suitably mark the 50th anniversary, in 2012, of the screening of the first episode of the hugely successful TV series Doctor Finlay’s Casebook.

The series is based on Cronin’s semi-autobiographical works Adventures in Two Worlds and Adventures of a Black Bag, which were set in 1920s Scotland.

First broadcast in August 1962, Doctor Finlay became one of the most successful and long-running TV series and an important landmark in the history of TV.

During the first series viewing figures spiralled from a remarkable eight million to 12 million and Doctor Finlay’s adventures were soon being avidly followed world-wide, in the USA, Canada, Australia and many other countries, including non-English speaking ones.

When Cronin subsequently expressed displeasure with the scripts and suggested that the series be terminated, a huge public outcry quickly changed his mind.

After the TV series ended in January 1971 it continued to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1970 to 1978.

Despite 66 of the 192 episodes of Doctor Finlay’s Casebook surviving, it is most unfortunate that it has not been screened for many years.

Nor has it ever been made available on DVD. I have, therefore, contacted BBC Scotland to suggest that they screen some episodes in the series’ 50th anniversary year and, perhaps, release a box set of the surviving episodes on DVD.